Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 Series Airplanes

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive detailed, low frequency eddy current, and high frequency eddy current inspections of the webs of the aft pressure bulkhead at body station 1016 for cracks, and corrective action if necessary. This AD is prompted by a report of cracks found, during fatigue testing, at several of the fastener rows in the web lap splices at the dome apex of the aft pressure bulkhead. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracks in the webs of the aft pressure bulkhead, which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane.